Summary:

Vivekachudamani, Verse 31 – Part 3: Ishvara is both the efficient and material cause of the universe — meaning nothing in creation is separate from Him. If material existed independently before creation, infinite regression follows, making the idea logically untenable. Ishvara's “material” is knowledge-power (māyā) itself, which manifests hierarchically: from Brahman → māyā → subtle elements (mind, prāṇa) → gross elements (time-space, matter). This Intelligence organizes atoms into molecules, cells into organs, and species into ecosystems — not randomly, but through all-knowledge, all-power. It operates as dharma (harmony) and karma (cause-effect). Sciences like biology, medicine, and physics are simply different angles of studying this one Intelligence. Recognizing Ishvara's pervading intelligence dissolves isolation. The mantra “OM” encapsulates this: “A” representing the total physical; “U” representing the total subtle; “M” representing the causal.

Vivekachudamani – Verse 31: What is Maya?

अव्यक्तनाम्नी परमेशशक्तिः
अनाद्यविद्या त्रिगुणात्मिका परा
कार्यानुमेया सुधिया एव माया
यया जगत् सर्वम् इदम् प्रसूयते (१०८, अल्त् ११०)
avyaktanāmnī parameśaśaktiḥ
anādyavidyā triguṇātmikā parā
kāryānumeyā sudhiyā eva māyā
yayā jagat sarvam idam prasūyate (108, Alt 110)

That māyā, through which this whole world is born, is called avyakta (unmanifest) and is the power of the limitless Lord. She is the beginningless ignorance, of the nature of the three guṇas viz., sattva, rajas and tamas. Her existence is to be inferred from her effects, by a person with a clear mind. By Her is this entire universe projected.

Notes for this session are in lesson 24. Session's content is from,“By maya, is this entire universe”, until the end.

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Recorded 14 Jan, 2026